Unit 3 AOS1 Stress Psychology

Eustress

A positive psychological stress response

Distress

A negative psychological stress response

Stressor

An event, stimulus or situation that causes stress

Adrenaline

A hormone that gives the body extra energy and is released for short-term stressors

Cortisol

A hormone that is released in times of stress. Involves short term and long-term responses to stress.

General Adaption Syndrome

A biological model for stress

Alarm

The first stage of the GAS Model. The immediate reaction to a stressor.

shock

The first sub-stage of alarm. Temperature and blood pressure drop momentarily. Freeze occurs.

Counter shock

The second sub-stage of alarm. The sympathetic nervous system becomes dominant. Fight or flight occurs.

Resistance

The second stage of the GAS model. One has sustained high levels of physiological arousal (stimulation) in order to deal with a stressor. An organism's resistance to stress is above normal.

Exhaustion

The third stage of the GAS model. An organism's resistance to a stressor falls below normal levels of functioning. Cortisol has been in the blood stream for a prolonged period of time leading to weakening of the immune system.

Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Model

a psychological model for stress

primary appraisal

Individual first determines the nature of the incoming stimulus and the type of stress it might cause.

secondary appraisal

evaluation of resources to cope with stressor/s

reappraisal

the process of examining a situation or activity again in order to make changes to it.

Benign-positive

An initial appraisal of a stimulus as neutral or good, and not causing stress for the individual (during primary appraisal)

irrelevant

A stimulus is perceived as not presenting an issue or source of worry for the individual in any way (will not cause stress) (during primary appraisal)

stressful

The stimulus will worry or force the individual to respond in some way (interpreted as being a stressor) (during primary appraisal)

Harm/loss

During primary appraisal the stressor is perceived as having already caused some damage for the individual (distress)

threat

During primary appraisal the stressor is perceived as potentially causing damage for the individual in the future (distress).

challenge

During primary appraisal the stressor is perceived as potentially providing a good opportunity for change or growth, though will be taxing in some way (eustress)

Internal Stressor

a stimulus from within a person's body that prompts the stress response.

External stressor

is a stimulus from outside of a person's body that prompts the stress response

Acute stressor

a form of stress characterised by intense psychological and physiological symptoms that are brief in duration

Chronic Stress

stress hat is endured for a long period of time.

Context-Specific

when the coping strategy or mechanism used is appropriate for the unique demands of the stressor.

Coping flexibility

the ability to effectively modify or adjust one's coping strategy according to the demands of different stressors.

Approach coping strategy

confronts a stress and directly deals with the stressor and its effects.

Avoidance coping strategy

evades a stressor indirectly deals with the stressor and its effects.

Gut microbiota

All of the microorganisms that live in the gut

The gut-brain axis

the bidirectional connection between the gut and the brain

Enteric nervous system

the network of nerves in the gut and is a subdivision of the autonomic nervous system

Vagus nerve

The longest cranial nerve that connects the gut and the brain enabling communication

HPA axis

A mechanism in the brain that mediates the effects of stressors by regulating physiological processes such as metabolism, immune system responses and the autonomic nervous system.